Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. Sues Mayo Clinic for Hepatitis C Infection

    JACKSONVILLE, FL, November 10, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dennis Wolford was 59 years old when he went to the Mayo Clinic in July 2006 for a liver transplant. Prior to the transplant, he underwent mandatory blood testing and it was determined he did not have Hepatitis C. During his hospitalization, Mayo records reflect that Mr. Wolford was supposed to receive the drug Fentanyl to relieve the pain.

A few months after his liver transplant, Mr. Wolford underwent additional blood testing and was found to have developed Hepatitis C. His first liver transplant failed as a result of damage to the new liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus. He underwent a second liver transplant in February 2008, but that liver also failed as a result of damage caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Mr. Wolford died on September 29, 2008 as a result of complications associated with his liver failure.

There was no explanation at the time for how Mr. Wolford might have contracted Hepatitis C at the Mayo Clinic. In August 2010, the Mayo Clinic began notifying patients for the first time that thousands of them may have been exposed to Hepatitis C by a Mayo Clinic radiology technologist, Steven Beumel. This technologist, who worked at Mayo from 2004 to 2010, admitted injecting himself with the painkiller, Fentanyl, which had been intended for patients. He then apparently refilled the syringe that had contained the pain killer with saline solution and injected that into patients. This procedure exposed many patients to small quantities of Mr. Beumel's blood which was infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney Frank A. Ashton of Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton said, "It seems clear that the most likely source of Mr. Wolford's Hepatitis C infection was the Mayo radiology technologist. We cannot understand how a radiology technologist could have been allowed access to such powerful narcotic pain medications or how he could have been permitted to directly inject patients with these medications. It is difficult to believe that this process could go on for many years without detection."

Mr. Ashton also noted, "We cannot say at this time if Mr. Wolford had the same specific type of Hepatitis C as the Mayo radiology technologist because Mayo has refused to disclose that information to us. It is unfortunate that we have to file this lawsuit to get information which Mayo should be making readily available to all patients potentially infected by Mayo's own employee."

The medical malpractice attorneys at Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton are currently accepting cases from members of the Jacksonville, Florida community who have been infected with Hepatitis C at the Mayo Clinic due to the careless actions of Mr. Beurnel. If you have contracted this disease, it is important to consult an attorney at once to ensure that your rights are protected and that you do not miss important filing deadlines.

About Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A.
Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton is a full service personal injury law firm serving the Jacksonville, Florida community. They have been protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 15 years, and they possess the extensive trial experience necessary to provide exceptional representation. For more information, please visit their website at www.jaxlegal.com.

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